UK player Astro returns to Rainbow Six Siege with Viperio following break and cancer diagnosis

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 11/04/2022

Update (April 11th 2022): Astro has joined UK esports organisation Viperio’s Rainbow Six line-up.

The roster can be found below, with fellow UK player Aktr on board as a substitute.

Viperio will be playing in the Rainbow Six Siege Northern Premier League.

Original article (January 14th 2022):

UK Rainbow Six Siege player Reece ‘ASTRO’ Lambert has announced he is taking a break from competitive play after a recent diagnosis.

As reported by Siege.gg, ASTRO (not to be confused with Brazilian player Leonardo ‘Astro’ Luis) posted an update on Twitter sharing the news that he has lymphoma, a type of cancer.

He said he will be taking a break from esports to focus on his treatments.

ASTRO added: “I’m completely speechless and don’t really have much to say other than it was a big shock due to multiple hospital appointments and specialists ruling out the lump is cancerous. Obviously I’ll know more soon eventually in the next few appointments and the next steps I’ll take.

“But as of now I think I’ll stop Siege competitively for a while to focus on my treatments and to get better. I’m all good now as it’s fresh and only minor few symptoms now and then but I think it’s best. I’ll update you guys on my situation and hopefully everything goes to plan.”

ASTRO has played for a number of teams including Epsilon Esports, Fierce Esports and most recently Gamma Gaming, the esports organisation set up by Arsenal footballer Sead Kolašinac.

The Rainbow Six Siege/esports community rallied around ASTRO following the tweets, sending him messages of support.

In the Twitter thread above, Rogue UK Rainbow Six pro Leon Giddens said: “Take care of yourself and stay strong, you got this.”

Caster Geo added: “That’s awful. Hopefully treatment or an operation can fix it. Good luck.”

MNM Gaming co-founder Kalvin Chung commented: “Wish you all the best and stay strong.”

German/Polish player Prano said: “My man, stay strong and you’ll power through it. It’s still fresh so a good thing that it’s been spotted early. Waiting for you to beat its ass so you can come back and I can beat your ass in EUL one day.”

Esports News UK wishes ASTRO well and a speedy recovery.

Dom Sacco, Senior Editor

Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He has almost two decades of experience in journalism, and left Esports News UK in June 2025. As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late '80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He also previously worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation.

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